The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-05-12

NAMED dormant SO !OnS. fOT IN
stance, in Alabama iron can be made
for from 81 to So per ton cheaper than
in Pennsylvania, and has aroused the
Keystone iron manufacturers to re-
alization of their waning prestige.
Birmingham, an Alabama city that
only a few years ago was small viii
lage, now numbers its inhabitants bv
MANY thousands, and railroads from
many points are being built toward it,
as it is the center of the great iron and
coal district. Admission, another thriv-
! ing town in Alabama and located near
iron deposits, is reported only a short
time since to have been sold to New
York syndicate for between Sc, ,ooo,o
and SIo,ooo,ooo. One peculiar ad
vantage some of the large companies
have is that they own the iron, the
coal and the limestone, with the favor
able feature of juxtaposition. Not only
in this State, but the same activity
may be said to exist in many Others,
mainly Georgia and North Carolina. "
care the extensive iron deposits i'll
Alabama confined to that State?"
"No, by no means. In the Western
part of North Carolina very extensive
iron ore deposits are found, the prin-
cipal of which is in the Cranberry sec
ton. This section is the scene of &C
tive railroad operations; the lands be-
ing valuable for farming and stock
raising; and the mountains containing
valuable underground stores as yet un-
developed to any great extent. West
ern North Carolina may also be con-
sidered in the sense of a sanitarium.
| Health resorts are numerous and the
salubrious climate is sought by those
affected by lung and kindred diseases. |"
"What minerals are found in North
Carolina ?"
"Almost every kind known to the
mineralogist, foremost among which
are gold, silver, iron, copper and lead.
Gold was first found in North Carolina,
in Carbarrus county, in 1879, and
four years later nugget weighing
twenty eight pounds avoirdupois was
found, which is the largest ever found
on the Eastern side of the United
States. The auriferous area. embraces
about one half of the State. The
mines are very extensively worked in
some localities, the most successful oi
which are those owned and operated
by the English, as they spare neither
money nor men of ability. Silver is
mined, as is copper. A valuable de-
posltory of this latter mineral has been
discovered North of Raleigh some sixty
miles, in Granville county. Mica /:
another valuable mineral successfully
mined. And perhaps it may be news
to some of your readers at least, tina
the bulk of the mica production of tht
world comes from North Carolina
The largest block of mica ever foune
was from Mitchell county, on exhibi
ton at Paris, and was over three fee
square. One mine in this county pro
duces over ton a month. Coal
also found, and corundum. | Nigh
mention Others, such as manganese
kaolin, agalmatolite, milestone, graph
, ite, tale, baryte, asbestos and pyrite
The precious stones found are Ola
mond, beryl, zircon, garnet, agate
opal, emerald, ruby, sapphire and hid
denite. This latter is an emerald
green gem, and the only place on tn
earth's surface that this gem is foun'
is in Alexander county, N. G. This
recognized as a gem of the hightes
rank, and strictly American; and ais
the thirteenth species of gem found il
the State
, "Are your towns and cities in
prosperous condition? -
"Generally speaking, decidly SC
In North Carolina the most prosper
Gus towns and cities are those in tn
, tobacco districts and railroad Centers
Durham (where are located large to
: bacco factories) only few years ag
was a small hamlet, now numbers il
inhabitants up into the thousand:
. It's peculiar prosperity is due to tt
, energy and progressive spirit of il
leading men. Many railroads
course of construction are centerin
there, and its future is fairly fatterins
q TO northern man it strikes him yer
. forcibly as typical town characteristi
!, of a colder cline Greensboro, Win
q ston, Salisbury and Charlotte are entel
q prising towns and steadily growing
"What is the condition of the co
= ored race in the South?"
$50 far as have seen they are pro:
! pering and contented. Climate ir
: duces and regulates customs and habit
g and those best able to judge of ii
proper treatment of the negro al
;. those who live in their midst and al
;, brought in contact with them in dali
= transactions. The Southern peopl
= recogninize the equality of the negr
;, in a kegaI sense wholly"
= "How about social equalityT
+ "The sun will never set on the da
IS that social equality IS fixture in til
q South. They are distinct and II
It ferior race, and while their legal righ
d ought 10 be and are respected, tt
$. matter of social equality is one tn
.g will regulate itself. Nine times in te
% the Northern man in the South WI